Keith Ellison Will Bring Former DNC Opponent As His Guest To Trump's Address

WASHINGTON ― In a show of party unity, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) will bring newly elected Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez as his guest to President Donald Trump’s speech before Congress Tuesday.

Perez defeated Ellison in a contentious race to chair the party Saturday, in an outcome that upset some in the progressive wing of the party who aligned themselves with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

But the two former opponents have been urging the party to come together ever since the winner was announced. Perez quickly named Ellison his deputy DNC chair and Ellison told his backers to “give everything you’ve got to support Chairman Perez.”

“DNC Chair Tom Perez has always been on the side of working people, and I am honored to have him as my guest to tomorrow evening’s Presidential Address,” Ellison said in a statement Monday evening.

Although many Democrats boycotted Trump’s inauguration, members of Congress so far seem to be planning to show up for Tuesday’s joint address. But many of them are going to do so in a show of opposition, whether it’s by bringing as their guests the new chair of the Democratic Party or people adversely affected by Trump’s policies.

Trump has said, without any proof, that the DNC chair election was rigged.

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